Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff “very much” hopes that the seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will expand his team work for the next season.
Hamilton signed a new one-year extension to his current Mercedes contract in February to keep the 36-year-old on the team for 2021 as he and Mercedes aim to win an eighth F1 World Championship this season.
The Brit has made it clear he doesn’t intend to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the year and enjoyed his battle against Max Verstappen as he narrowly defeated the Red Bull driver three weeks ago to claim victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix To win the season opening.
And Wolff said he saw no reason why his star driver didn’t want to stay in the Mercedes team.
“I really hope so,” replied Wolff when asked if Hamilton should stay with Mercedes in 2022.
“The trip together was very successful. He’s a Mercedes driver – a Mercedes child since his go-karting years. He never drove a single weekend in Formula 1 without a Mercedes drive, so this is the logical continuation of the story. “
On the subject of matching items
Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas also no longer has a contract at the end of the year, and Wolff is determined to complete the Mercedes driver roster in 2022 well before the campaign is over to avoid repeating the belated negotiations on Hamilton’s latest deal.
In the meantime, the contract between the young Mercedes driver George Russell and Williams expires at the end of 2021, and the 23-year-old Brit could force himself into the picture for a trip to the German manufacturer, which is also associated with a change for Verstappen.
“We don’t want to leave it until January to confirm the two drivers,” added Wolff.
“Valtteri [Bottas] was pretty regular in the summer, then it should happen. In addition, to give the driver security or to be able to concentrate on the work.
“And of course there are a lot of balls in the air for the next year, and we will always try to do the best for the team in the long term and at the same time give our current driver line-up full loyalty.
On the subject of matching items
“We don’t doubt Valtteri or Lewis, but there will obviously be discussions – but not next January.”
The post “Logical” for Hamilton to continue with Mercedes in F1 first appeared on monter-une-startup.
